Photo by Anna Bakker
A recent series of Chinese naval exercises near Japan has heightened regional tensions, prompting Japan to issue a formal protest and take the unusual step of publicly disclosing the movements of the Chinese military.
Over the past few weeks, China’s two aircraft carriers—the Shandong and the Liaoning—have conducted simultaneous exercises in the Pacific, a move described as unprecedented by analysts. During these drills, Chinese fighter jets performed hundreds of take-offs and landings, with some aircraft reportedly coming close to Japanese surveillance planes. These incidents led Tokyo to express “serious concerns” to Beijing.
China maintains that its military activities comply with international law and in turn accused Japan of undertaking “dangerous moves.” On Tuesday, Japan’s defense ministry released a detailed map showing the daily movements of the two Chinese carriers since 25 May. The decision to release such information is highly unusual, as Tokyo typically refrains from disclosing foreign military operations in the region.
The map indicated that both Chinese carriers operated near Japanese islands and, in some cases, navigated through Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). While international law permits freedom of navigation through EEZs, the zone grants the coastal state exclusive rights over marine resource exploration and exploitation.
Notably, the Liaoning was observed passing beyond the so-called “second island chain”—a strategic defense line in U.S. military doctrine that stretches from Japan to Guam. According to Japanese media, this marks the first time a Chinese aircraft carrier has breached that boundary.
Japan’s defense ministry reported over 500 total landings and take-offs of Chinese jets and helicopters during the drills. On 7 June, a fighter jet launched from the Shandong and reportedly tailed a Japanese surveillance aircraft for around 40 minutes. The following day, another Chinese jet flew close to a Japanese aircraft for nearly twice that time and crossed directly in front of it, escalating concerns in Tokyo.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated that Japan has communicated its apprehension to Beijing, describing the encounters as “abnormal approaches” that risk unintended collisions. In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian defended the military’s operations, asserting that China’s actions in the region are “in line with international law and practices.” He criticized Japanese reconnaissance missions, saying they posed maritime and aerial security threats, and called on Japan to cease such “dangerous moves.”
While China’s dual-carrier drills dominate the current spotlight, attention has also shifted to its next-generation carrier, the Fujian, which the Chinese military says is progressing smoothly through sea trials and is on track to enter service later this year. The Fujian will be the first Chinese aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, a cutting-edge technology currently exclusive to the United States Navy.
This advanced system will allow the Fujian to launch a broader array of aircraft more quickly and enable jets to take off with full fuel and weapon loads, resulting in significantly more sortie capacity than previous carriers, according to Chinese state media.
This month’s Pacific drills follow a similarly scrutinized Chinese naval exercise held in February in the Tasman Sea, which drew objections from Australia and New Zealand. Both countries criticized China for failing to provide sufficient notice, leading to the last-minute rerouting of some commercial flights. Although Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles later acknowledged the drills conformed to international law, he emphasized the need for China to offer more transparency amid what he termed an “extraordinary military build-up.”
China’s increasingly assertive military posture comes as the United States reiterates its commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. Last month, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s support for regional allies, pledging that the U.S. would not retreat from Asia or allow its partners to be coerced.
In response, China labeled the U.S. as the “biggest troublemaker” in Asia. Meanwhile, the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, which had been operating in the South China Sea, departed the area on Monday. Multiple reports suggest it is heading to the Middle East amid escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
